President Mahama commissions B5 Plus plant, highlights mining and job benefits

Mahama shares Ghana GoldBod experience with Zambian ParliamentPresident John Mahama has stated that expanding domestic steel production will play a critical role in supporting Ghana’s mining sector, infrastructure development and job creation.

Speaking at the commissioning of the Phase Two expansion of B5 Plus Ltd’s Steel Ball Mill and Section Mill (SBMS) manufacturing plant at Larkpleku Village on Friday, February 20, the President said a stronger local steel base would provide essential inputs for key sectors of the economy.

He noted that Ghana’s mining industry — including gold, bauxite, manganese and lithium — requires significant steel for crushing and grinding, structural reinforcement, heavy equipment maintenance and mineral processing.

According to him, building local capacity in steel manufacturing will strategically position the country to integrate mining and metal processing into a coordinated industrial ecosystem.

President Mahama added that steel production is also vital for major infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, railways, energy transmission lines, housing and industrial parks, particularly under the government’s Big Push infrastructure programme.

He said facilities such as B5 Plus, when operating at full capacity, will generate direct factory employment, technical and engineering jobs, as well as opportunities in transport, logistics and small and medium-sized enterprise supply chains.

He further indicated that industrial expansion would deepen skills development through apprenticeship and vocational training.